Proposed development in N.W. advances

The proposed Rivertown development along State Road 13 might one day bring 4,500 new homes in a series of neighborhoods to the fast-growing northwest.

The St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency voted unanimously Thursday to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners send the Comprehensive Plan changes associated with the development to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for review.

The project is in its early stages, and the lack of detail caused concern among the agency members. The members and residents were worried about impacts from the project.

"It's a beautiful project, and it's somewhere that I'd like to live one day, but there are a lot of questions that have to be answered," agency member Jerry Cameron said.

Rivertown sits on 4,170 acres south of Greenbriar Road and northwest of County Road 210. The proposed development's western border is the St. Johns River.

In addition to the homes, the proposal calls for 300,000 square feet of retail space, 100,000 square feet of office space, 100,000 square feet of industrial space, an 18-hole golf course, 350 acres of parks, a 58-acre riverfront park, and three public schools.

The park space would include a 100-acre park will ball fields.

"We understand and believe that it is very important to have an area where our children can be active," said Margaret Jennesse, president of North Florida operations for Arvida, the developer.

The project was designed with a collection of villages in mind, Jennesse said. The development would have seven districts, each with a unique amenity and homes of varying styles. A town center in the middle of the project would have a mix of shops, churches and homes.

"As charming and as vibrant as this community may be, it is entirely too big for the area," said Margaret Powell, who owns 100 acres off State Road 16A.

The developer would spend $33 million on transportation improvements in the area.

Cameron wanted assurance that the development wouldn't burden the taxpayers for infrastructure expenses such as new schools. He wants Rivertown to pay for itself.

"That's the primary concern," Cameron said.

Agency member Don House said the county would be derelict if it didn't put the proposal in the hands of state professionals for review, and that's why he supported sending the project to the Department of Community Affairs.

The Comprehensive Plan changes needed for the development include changing the Future Land Use Map from rural/silviculture to residential, commercial, mixed use and parks and open space. Other changes regarding issues such as transportation are needed as well.

The development plans are currently under review by county staff. The county is concerned with the proposed community center, the impacts to the northwest and impacts to traffic, said Teresa Bishop, the county's chief planner. Other outstanding issues include recreation and schools, she said.

However, the staff feels comfortable sending the Comprehensive Plan changes to the state for review, Bishop said.

The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to review the project Sept. 9. The board will decide whether to send the project to the Department of Community Affairs for review.